2013 NAIA Menís Golf National Championships Ė Day 3 Recap

Oklahoma City vies for second-consecutive title with 18 holes remaining

May 16, 2013

By Alan Grosbach, Manager of Communications and Sports Information

SALEM, Ore. – (Individual Results | Team Results | Fourth Round Pairings) Defending national champion Oklahoma City maintained the clubhouse lead for the third-straight day of the 2013 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championships presented by FORE! Salem. The 62nd annual event is being played out at Creekside Golf Club and is hosted by the Cascade Collegiate Conference and Corban University (Ore.).

The Stars carded their highest single-day total of the championship with a third round score of 1-over par 289, but hold a 16-stroke advantage over second-place Texas Wesleyan. The Rams shot 279 on the day, which is the lowest single round team score since the event moved to Creekside Golf Club in 2012, to vault from No. 8 to No. 2 in the team race. Rounding out the remainder of the top five are Cal State San Marcos, Johnson & Wales (Fla.) and Grand View (Iowa).

Individually, Aaron Flores of Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) and Sondre Ronold of Oklahoma City are tied atop the leader board. Flores, who started the afternoon in sixth position with rounds of 72 and 71 to open the championships, carded a 69 that included four birdies on the front nine and two on the back. Conversely, Ronold struggled during his round with a 2-over par 74, but was able to maintain his No. 1 position because of back-to-back 69’s on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Seven other individuals rest within four strokes of the leaders entering the final day, including Adam Loran of Cal State San Marcos (70-69-74—213), Anthony Marchesani of Oklahoma City (68-72-73—213), Dylan Anthony of Texas Wesleyan (72-72-70—214), Colin Brennan of Johnson & Wales (Fla.) (69-74-72—215), Tyler Christians of Grand View (Iowa) (70-72-73—215), James Marchesani of Oklahoma City (72-75-69—216) and Michael Palmer of Oklahoma City (71-72-73—216).

Following third round action the field is cut to 17 teams and the top 40 individuals. The fourth and final round will begin play on Friday at 7:30 a.m. PDT with Shane Gilbert of Southwestern (Kan.), Julian Taylor of William Woods (Mo.) and Trevor Banks of Virginia Intermont starting on No. 1. Back-nine action opens at 7:40 a.m. with Wayland Baptist (Texas) and Northwestern (Iowa). For the complete fourth round tee times and pairings, click here.

For complete schedule and results for the 2013 NAIA Men’s Golf National Championships, click here.